January 17, 2015

Making friends with the scale...

For years, and I mean years, my life has been ruled by a scale. An increase on the scale made for a bad day, week, month...a decrease was cause for celebration. It's such an exhausting way to measure success. And really, as you become more fit, it becomes a less and less realistic way of judging shrinking fat and increasing muscle mass. As I become more fit, my clothes fit better, I lose sizes. Sometimes the scale doesn't budge very much and putting all my faith in it makes for disappointment. I have come to realize the scale is NOT my friend.

I'm learning, slowly, that the scale is a tool. Only one tool in the arsenal in this journey. My scale for instance not only weighs me, but gives me an accounting of body fat. Sometimes that feature is harder to swallow. In my youth I was fit. I was so fit that I appeared larger than the average thin girl. That was super frustrating. Though, I really loved my muscle and my stamina back in the day. I'm built like my dad, what can I say. I digress.

As I move forward, I'm determined not to let a number gauge my attitude. A number is just a number. For instance, today, I weigh in at WW. I had an average week. It was rough in the beginning because I was frustrated by the results at the doctor's office. Another 4-8 weeks of little activity -- certainly nothing that will burn a fire of metabolism. Disappointing. But, I've pulled it togther and did pretty well overall. I had more greens and fruits than I had been eating (which is tougher in the winter than the summer here in CO, that's for sure) previously.

I still walked at work, enough to earn a 3-4 on my fitbit. Even with my gimpy leg. I got lots of sleep and drank a LOT of water. Another thing to brag on...I haven't had a sugar soda in more than a week. That's saying a lot. I am, for the most part, pretty addicted to my Coke. And put a Vanilla Coke in my path and I'm not sure, even now, if I'd have the strength to resist. I feel better. Like I'm more engaged in healthy pursuits.

The scale is...literally, just is. It is a tool in this journey. It isn't alive, can't intimidate, anger, upset or deflate me unless I choose to allow it. And I don't. It will be a guide for when things are happening in my body. Water retention, a switch between muscle and fat, a difficult week on the eating path. I don't weigh myself every day. I used to, but I don't anymore. In fact, I think it's a good idea to let my once-a-week weigh in be my guide. It makes me accountable throughout the week. Knowing I'll report to someone what's up on the scale. Learning to use it as a guide will help me make peace. Who knows, at the goal of this journey I might even consider the thing my friend.